SKILFUL FORGERY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 181, 5 August 1935, Page 8

SKILFUL FORGERY

POST OFFICE SAVINGS SLIP LARGE SUM WITHDRAWN POLICE MAKE AN ARREST | Ter Press Association. I AUCKLAND, Aug. 4. The skilful forgery of two signatures on a withdrawal slip resulted in the theft of £lB5O from the Post Office Savings Bank in Auckland last Thurs day. The iioney was paid by cheque and within an hour the cheque had been cashed at the Bank of New Zealand and the thief was in possession of the amount in notes.

A withdrawal slip bearing what was apparently the signature of au Auckland resident who has an account at the I'ost Office Savings Bank, ami also that of an alleged witr.es*, was pre-

sented at a busy time last Thursday afl»_nroon. The signature purporting to bo that of the depositor was apparently genuine, and after the usual fo*malitieii of checking had been complied with, a cheque for £lB5O was mad° out. and handed to the person who had presented the slip. It was. not until the bank staff was checking for the sec ».id tune the signatures of withdrawal slips presented during the day with the specimen signature of depositors that the /‘oigery was discovered. 'The dcra.'.itor concerned was communicatM wiln and it was found that he had no I.U'wTcdge of any such withdrawn l , which represented a large portion of his L-alance. Inquiries revealed that the cheque had already been cashed, making it impossible to stop payment, but the police were advised and an investigation was commenced. Widespread inquiry niede by Auckland detectives resulted iu the receipt of in formation that was promptly for-v-ji’led to the police in Wellingt*»u. .Vs a result Wellington detectives braided the Wangnnella shortly before she sailed for Sydney early on Satur dav afternoon an 1 arrested a man ami a v oman, said to be mother and son. Prisoners will appear in the Police Uciiit, and a request will be made by the police that they sTiould be remanded to Auckland.